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Digital Photography Basics - How To Get Started
Filed Under (Photography) by guestauthor on 18-05-2010
Digital photography is becoming the industry standard for photography however it is still a relatively new technology. Many of the greatest advances in digital happened within the last ten years, and if you’re a later adopter it’s nothing to be ashamed of - there are millions of people out there that have never touched a digital camera.
And the best part? Getting started is easier than you think!
The Camera
There was a time when a decent digital camera was far outside the price range of non-royalty, but that time has thankfully come and gone. Now you can get a good point and shoot camera for less than $200 or for more features you can get a nice digital SLR for under $1000.
Try to keep in mind what you want to use the camera for so you can be sure to get a camera that’s best suited for your needs. If your primary picture taking is to capture memories of your friends and family, then the high image quality of an SLR doesn’t do much for you. Think about when you use your camera most, and buy one that will be suitable for that purpose.
Software to Manage and Edit Your Images
Many digital cameras include some type of software for uploading images and managing your files. Some of these tools are better than others but if you have a Mac you can use iPhoto. And in terms of uploading, as long as your computer can see your camera or the card reader, you can upload the files however you choose.
As for editing software, there is a wide variety of options out there for every price range imaginable. Paint.net is a great free image editing software that offers features like layer editing and other advanced features that other higher end software offers. Another good free photo editor is The Gimp or you can go the professional route and buy Adobe Photoshop. Just be aware that Photoshop is a pro tool at a pro price, and you probably won’t need all of its features right when you begin.
The Final Product
Finally, once you’ve uploaded and edited your images, you’ll probably want to share your photos with friends and family. There are countless ways to do this, but the most popular is definitely online photo sharing through sites like Flickr or Facebook. Sharing your photos online allows your friends and family to see how you’re doing without you taking the time and effort to print out and mail them pictures.
You can print them to real photo paper at home, through online services like Snapfish, or share them to a site - it all depends on what you want to do with them. You could even start a family blog through a free service like WordPress or Blogger and share your family stories and photos right there. And, once you’ve shared your photos online, you can then put your photos in picture frames and beautifully decorate your home or office.
Digital photography is easy to learn but can require a lot more time and skill to master. The best thing about digital is that anyone can pick up a digital camera, upload their photos, and share them with friends with very little knowledge in the field. Once you’ve got the basics under control it can get as complicated as you want it to. If you’re new to digital photography, then you may be better off getting an inexpensive point and shoot camera and seeing how it works for you. This way, you’ll get comfortable taking digital pictures and may even find yourself spending more time sending pictures to the people you care about!





